Saturday, 29 May 2010

So I went to the highlands of Scotland last week for a wedding; after which my family and I went for a walk up a hill near Loch Ness and look what I saw:

Felt balls on a barbed wire fence! Fantastic! The highland bulls must rub past the barbed wire and the hair gathers around the barbs until it felts together to create a string of felt beads along the fence - natural felting - fantastic. Here is a pic of the beastie that must have caused this phenomenon:

Thursday, 13 May 2010

Went to Stroud last weekend to the Textile Festival with my sister and had a great time despite the awful weather! There were a series of open studios and exhibitions spread out around the town. One of the best was called 'Curious Drawers' which featured a group of textile artists who call themselves the Brunel Broderers.

It included an interactive piece where you were encouraged to take up a needle and thread to stitch into a chest of drawers. Here is my sister in stitch action:

There was also a great stall area where they were selling little pieces of work; I was so amazed at the fantastic work on display and I fell in love with several of Lizzie Weir's pieces that were for sale; in the end I only bought one but I am thrilled with it and I am sure you will agree its quite beautiful and the composition just sings to me:

Fibres to Felt / Felt Meets Cloth

Felt Meets Cloth makes felted homewares and textile art, and is run by the London-based artist Abigail Thomas, who works with felt, cloth, thread and fibre.

Felt Meets Cloth also runs feltmaking workshops for both adults & children, and is happy to teach beginners as well as those with a bit of experience in felting. Workshops are regualrly held in East London, South Cambridgeshire, and occasionally in South Wales & even Northumberland!